We demand that the government institute a separate inquiry into those who had launched a malicious campaign against Shujaat. The cyber cell of the union home ministry should look into all those IP addresses and their sources from where the malicious campaigns were conducted

A number of journalist organistations have demanded that the government of Jammu and Kashmir bring the murders of Shujaat Bukhari to book at the earliest.

The statement issued by Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Editors’ Guild, SAFMA and South Asian Women in Media, IJU, FCC, NUJ, Working News Camerapersons Association, All India Urdu Editors Conference said that everyone in India has this sovereign right to freedom of speech and expression.

“The increasing intolerance to such freedoms has the potential of undermining the character and nature of democracy itself,” they said.

It added that the remembrance cum solidarity meeting held today under the aegis of various journalist organisations condemns the shocking killing of Shujaat Bukhari, Editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir and his two Personal Security Officers.

“We demand that the government of Jammu and Kashmir bring the perpetrators of this dastardly crime to book at the earliest. We demand that the government institute a separate inquiry into those who had launched a malicious campaign against Shujaat. The cyber cell of the union home ministry should look into all those IP addresses and their sources from where the malicious campaigns were conducted,” the joint statement issued by the organisations said.

“We feel that such killings are often preceded by hate messages and malicious campaigns on the social media. Various journalists and other civilians have been viciously trolled and targeted. All such instances ought to be monitored by a vigilant government if civilian safety and security is a priority in governance,”.